| When selecting beginner golf clubs, there are a | | | | There is a small place on the face of a golf club |
| few important guidelines to keep in mind. One size | | | | that allows for the most solid strike of the ball. |
| doesn't fit all, and choosing the best set of clubs | | | | This place is known as the "sweet spot." When a |
| on the front end can make the learning | | | | golf ball is struck on this sweet spot, maximum |
| experience much more enjoyable and productive. | | | | distance is achieved. Striking the ball outside of the |
| In the past 20 years, the most significant change | | | | sweet spot results in a "mishit" and a restricted |
| in golf clubs has been the increased size of the | | | | ball flight. Large face drivers maximize the size of |
| clubhead. It all began with the introduction of the | | | | the sweet spot and reduce the number of mishit |
| original Big Bertha driver in 1991, and ever since, | | | | shots, thus producing a greater number of longer |
| club manufacturers have steadily increased the | | | | drives and a happier golfer. |
| size of the clubface. The Big Bertha boasted a | | | | The size of the clubface of irons has also |
| clubhead volume of 190 cubic centimeters (cc). | | | | increased over the years, although not as |
| Today, the maximum size permitted by the | | | | drastically as the driver and metal woods. These |
| United States Golf Association is 460 cubic | | | | larger irons have an enlarged sweet spot hitting |
| centimeters. A beginner needs a driver around | | | | area that allows for a greater number of solid |
| 430 cc to provide a large hitting area which will | | | | shots and fewer mishits. |
| result in much better shots. There's no question | | | | Club manufacturers have also added the element |
| about it - size does matter. | | | | of "perimeter weighting" to these larger irons. |
| Another recommendation for the beginner is to | | | | Perimeter weighting is the term used for pushing |
| choose a large head driver that has between 10 | | | | weight from the center of the club to the outer |
| and 12 degrees of loft. With this additional loft, it | | | | edges. With this weight distribution, the clubhead is |
| will be easier to get the ball airborne and the ball | | | | less likely to twist when a ball is mishit, which |
| flight should be a bit straighter. | | | | produces a longer ball flight. |